Totally Texas -- A century old and still beautiful

White Rock Lake, Dallas

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When I moved to Dallas, knowing little about the city, I only looked for a central location for work, a decent school, a church, and a few amenities.  I didn’t realize I’d also found a home within walking distance of one of Dallas’s greatest treasures, White Rock Lake.  The artificial lake, which opened in 1911 and became a city park in 1929, is celebrating its centennial this year with one hundred days of special events.

This coming weekend, May 7, the Dallas Running Club hosts a centennial half marathon from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting at Winfrey Point, 952 Winfrey Point Drive (with access from Garland Road).  Additional free events in May include a free family weekend of water sports presented by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department May 14, a Little League Baseball tournament May 14-15, a three-race centennial regatta May 21, the White Rock sprint championships rowing event May 22.  The regatta and sprint championships are free to watch but require fees for participation.  For additional information and participant registration, see http://www.whiterockboatclub.com/ for the regatta and http://www.whiterockboathouse.com/ for the rowing event.

Additional events continue into June, to mark the date in 1911 when the dam across White Rock Creek that created the lake was completed.  The festivities culminate in what the For the Love of the Lake organization calls the beach party of the century on June 25-26.  It expects to host more than five thousand people at the Bath House Cultural Center at 521 E. Lawther Drive from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 25 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26.  The Dallas Arboretum, which overlooks the lake, will cap June 26’s festivities with a 7 p.m. concert.  Please see www.whiterockdallas.org for admission fees and additional information closer to the date.